Questioning the Ethics of Unpaid Internships

Having reached awareness in the media, government and even the Supreme Court, there is much debate surrounding the legal standing and implications of unpaid internships. More so, the biased nature of unpaid internships has exposed much discrepancy toward low-income students, who cannot assume overheads of housing, transportation, food, attire and other additional hidden costs. Numerous academic institutions have questioned the role of internship programs, as many of their students cannot afford to work without compensation. The legal status of unpaid internships is based in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Researcher Braun explains the implications of this act as a function of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. Thus, the law protects the rights of American workers, and requires employers to pay employees the federally mandated minimum wage. However, many companies skirt around this statute, as it fails to address the specifications of labor standards for interns.